NAIROBI: An air strike has killed at least 26 people in Ethiopia´s embattled Amhara region, a hospital official and a resident told AFP on Monday, as the region continues to be rocked by deadly clashes. “Twenty-two bodies were brought to the hospital, while four others who were critically injured died soon after arriving in the hospital” in Finote Selam, said the hospital official. “We´ve so far received 55 injured patients out of which more than 40 are gravely injured,” he added, speaking anonymously over safety concerns. A resident who arrived shortly after the strike told AFP he had “helped in the burial of bodies of 30 victims”. He said he saw “a medium sized freight vehicle had been completely destroyed in an air strike with dead bodies strewn around the vehicle”.

Addis Ababa [Ethiopia], August 15 (ANI): At least 26 people have been killed in an explosion in the Finote Selam region of Ethiopia amid heavy fighting between government forces and a local militia group, CNN reported. A further 50 people were injured in Sunday’s blast, according to Manaye Tenaw, CEO of the Finote Selam General Hospital. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) expressed “grave concern” over heavy fighting between the two groups which erupted on August 3. In a statement on Friday, the United Nations "called on all sides to respect human rights and take steps to de-escalate the situation." It further said that “previous states of emergency have been accompanied by violations of human rights."

Hardik Pandya's captaincy and form of players like Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson were the few main reasons behind India's loss to a 7th-ranked team. But Pakistan fans were about to face the wrath of not just the Indian fans but also the former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who took a dig at them with a witty response. Quoting a famous hindi proverb for someone getting excited in someone else's matter, Pathan wrote, "Begaani Shadi mein Abdulla deewana… #sunday #padosi." The tweet went viral as expected as the fans hailed Pathan for giving Pakistan fans a taste of their own medicine. However, that didn't take attention away from India's disappointing performance.

EGYPTAIR’s Previous CommitmentsIn August 2022, EGYPTAIR informed PETA U.S. that it is no longer in the business of transporting monkeys from Africa and Asia to laboratories in the U.S. and elsewhere. This apparent reversal of stance has raised concerns among animal rights organizations, including PETA, Action for Primates, One Voice, and Abolición Vivisección. These organizations have come together to address the issue and renew their campaigns against the airline’s involvement in the cruel monkey trade. The Dark Side of the Macaque Wildlife TradeThe macaque wildlife trade is characterized by its violent nature and disease. Public Health ConcernsApart from the cruelty to animals, the macaque wildlife trade poses a significant risk to public health.

Desert locusts have affected three zones in the Tigray region, devastatingly affecting 80% of agricultural production in certain areas (Photo: focusonafrica.info)Addis Abeba – The Tigray interim administration has announced that desert locusts have affected three zones in the Tigray region, namely the eastern, southeastern, and southern parts. Getachew Reda, the head of the interim administration, made this statement yesterday during a press briefing for the state media. He said the interim administration has established a task force to address the issue. Getachew further emphasized that the desert locusts are at an adult age and pose a significant threat to agricultural production in the region. According to Mebrahtom, the Tigray Agriculture Bureau has already notified relevant bodies, such as the federal government and FAO about the locust invasion.

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The FDI angle: The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam - or GERD - along the Blue Nile river is set to become Africa's biggest power plant and one of the largest 20 dams in the world. AdvertisementTo tackle this pervasive electricity insecurity, the Ethiopian government began the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) along the Blue Nile river in 2011. A reservoir of 74 billion cubic metres that has spooked the two Blue Nile downstream countries: Sudan and Egypt. The Blue Nile joins the White Nile in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, to form the Nile. In Sudan, two Blue Nile dams — the Roseires Dam and Sennar Dam — contribute to at least 40% of the country’s hydropower.

Ethiopia's House of People’s Representatives votes in favour of the state of emergency declared by the federal government over violence in the Amhara region. Therefore, to stop the situation, declaring a state of emergency has become necessary," says Tesfaye Beljige, Government Chief Whip. Clashes between members of the Ethiopian army and a local militia known as Fano erupted earlier in the month in towns and cities across Amhara after months of tensions. A resident who arrived shortly after the strike told AFP he had "helped in the burial of bodies of 30 victims". After several days of deadly clashes, the army has reoccupied the main towns in Amhara.

Following months of tension and sporadic clashes, large parts of the Amhara region was engulfed in heavy fighting since August 3, 2023. EHRC continues to monitor the impact of the conflict in the Amhara region on the human rights situation. There have been cases where protestors including civilians who attempted to block roads were killed. EHRC underscores that human rights are inalienable and should continue to apply and be respected both in times of conflict and peace. All parties must take the necessary precautions and measures to protect civilians, including by refraining from indiscriminate attacks.

Gedu Andargachew ( Photo : SM)borkenaGedu Andargachew says military actions are not a solution to the problem in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. He was bold to state that the ruling party, who used to enjoy popular support in the past, has no legitimacy in the Amhara region at this point. He vehemently opposed that what is happening to the Amhara region could happen to other regions tomorrow and that it is in the interest of parliamentarians from other regions to oppose the military action in the Amhara region. Local media outlets are reporting war crimes and genocide in the Amhara region. In the past few days, the Ethiopian Defense Force intensified attacks in the Amhara region targeting civilians.

Ethiopia’s parliament approved a state of emergency on Monday following a week of violence in the country’s Amhara region. The state of emergency gives the government sweeping powers to arrest and detain people, and to restrict freedom of movement and assembly. The state of emergency was issued last week by the office of the Ethiopian prime minister, Abiy Ahmed (CoM). Amharas Targeted in Ethiopia’s Widespread ArrestsThe approval of the state of emergency comes as the Associated Press reported that Ethiopian authorities have arrested hundreds, even thousands, of ethnic Amharas in the capital, Addis Ababa. The AP report cited ethnic Amhara witnesses.

There is no extraction mission being planned out of Gondar, Ethiopia, for locals who say they have Jewish roots, Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer said Monday. Ethiopia is home to thousands of people who say they have Jewish roots but are not eligible to immigrate under that law. In 1992, Beta Israel Ethiopians living in Israel began lobbying for their Falash Mura relatives who had stayed behind to be allowed to immigrate. Residents told The Associated Press there was fierce fighting between military personnel and militia members in Bahir Dar and Gondar until Tuesday. AdvertisementAnalysts fear the Amhara militia, known as Fano, may continue its struggle in the countryside using guerrilla tactics.

The Council of Ministers said it is necessary to take emergency measures to maintain public peace and security and enforce law and order. On Sunday, the strike in Finote Selam was among the most deadly in the region, where the army has been fighting Fano, a local paramilitary force. The fighting has been fuelled by Fano accusations that the federal government is trying to weaken Amhara's defences. It is Ethiopia's worst crisis since a civil war in the northern Tigray region ended in November 2022. Fano had backed federal forces during the Tigray war, the BBC reported.

Addis Abeba — The Tigray interim administration has announced that desert locusts have affected three zones in the Tigray region, namely the eastern, southeastern, and southern parts. Getachew Reda, the head of the interim administration, made this statement yesterday during a press briefing for the state media. He said the interim administration has established a task force to address the issue. Getachew further emphasized that the desert locusts are at an adult age and pose a significant threat to agricultural production in the region. According to Mebrahtom, the Tigray Agriculture Bureau has already notified relevant bodies, such as the federal government and FAO about the locust invasion.

At least 26 people have been killed in an explosion in the Finote Selam region of Ethiopia amid heavy fighting between government forces and a local militia group, CNN reported. Finote Selam General Hospital CEO Manaye Tenaw said that another 50 people have been injured in the blast on Sunday, according to CNN report. A further 50 people were injured in Sunday’s blast, according to Manaye Tenaw, CEO of the Finote Selam General Hospital. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) expressed “grave concern” over heavy fighting between the two groups which erupted on August 3. The Ethiopian government declared a six-month state of emergency in the Amhara region on August 4 after days of clashes, CNN reported.